Isaiah 63

Notes on the verses

Chap. LXIIL Ver. 1—6. Whois this? &c.—Bishop Lowth places these verses in dialogue form, thus: Ver. 1. Who, &c. the chorus. ‘The last line, “I who speak,” &c. Messiah. Ver. 3. chorus. Ver. 4 to 6. Messiah. _ Ver. 2. The wine-fat.—Lowth, vat, as the word is always now spelt; meaning, the vessel in which the grapes were trodden. Ver. 3. People there was none.—‘The very remarkable passage contained in the first six verses of this chapter, seems in a manner detached from the rest, and to stand singly by itself; containing a prophetical representation of the victories of the Messiah over the enemies of his church, here designated by the names of Edom and Bozrah. Though, as Bishop Lowth observes, this prophecy must have its accomplishment, there is no necessity of supposing that it has been already accomplished.

There are prophecies which intimate a great slaughter of the enemies of God and his people, which remain to be fulfilled: those in (Ezekiel 38)and (Revelation 20)are called Gog and Magog. This prophecy of Isaiah may possibly refer to the same, or the like event. — Ver. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted.—So our version, but the word is used for external, not internal troubles, and might be better rendered, “In all their distresses he was distressed.” It must be remarked, however, that all the ancient versions read with the Keri aleph instead of vau, which implies a negative, and has occasioned very different renderings. Boothroyd reads, “In all their distresses he was not opposed to them.” Lowth, “It was not an envoy, nor an angel, &c….. but he himself redeemed them.” We incline, however, with Gataker, to the common version, changing afflictions for ‘distresses;’ meaning, from their enemies.—The angel of his presence, —That is, Christ. See Ex. xxiii, 20, 21.—He bare them.—Compare (Exodus 19:4), Ver. 11. Where is he, &c.—Lowth, ‘How he (i.e. God) brought.”— “With the shepherd, (i.e. Moses.) How he put within them his Holy Spirit. Ver. 14. As a beast.—Lowth, “As the herd descendeth into the valley (to rest) so,” &c. Ver. 15. Toward me.—LXX. and Lowth read “us.” Ver. 16. Our Redeemer—is thy name from, &c.—Boothroyd. _ Ver. 17. Made us to err.—That is, says Gataker, “Giving us up to a spirit of error, and obstinacy.”